Changing Hearts, Changing Minds, Changing Diapers

Do you write or read out of a desire to make a difference in this world? If you’re here, you are mostly likely passionate in creating a better tomorrow and inspiring others to adopt the same.

In a world replete the soundings and insights of cultural and thought influencers, I propose we take inspiration from the most powerful change-makers of all: babies.

Think about it.

Babies have an incredible impact on those around them. Alcoholics get sober; depressed individuals find new-found joy; disinterested, self-centered children (of any age) become grounded and compassionate adults.

Their raw emotions and vulnerability inspire us to be better people, to see the world with new eyes, and to find joy in the simplest things.

Yet, with few exceptions, all a baby does is:

Poop and eat. Smile and laugh. And Cry.

Can we bring this same transformative power to our writing? Let’s break it down.

Poop and eat.

Start by admitting we’re human. We can be a mess. We have visceral desires. We crap on ourselves at times. When we write, we need to get that raw with our words. Forget about writing the perfect words, that’s what ChatGPT does.

Instead, choose words that are the most real to you.

We needn’t put up our best front or present our most-profound selves. Chances are those reading our content are more learned and astute than we are. But, even they often melt around a little baby. Change them through our failures, our struggles — our “messes.”

Smile and laugh.

Write with humor and inspiration as guideposts. When we write, imagine the facial expressions of our readers. Are their lips turned up and their eyes brightened as they read? Or are their brows furled because they are just processing whether to accept our ideas or not?

Inspiration over just information, no matter how profound that information might be.

In my advertising agency, I often share with clients, “when we are presented with information, we process and then decide to adopt or discard… but when we are inspired WE ACT.”

Think about the emotional experience the reader is going to have with our writings. Are we taking them on an emotional journey, much like a well-structured movie? Are there twists and turns that change the mood of the reader as they read and ponder?

And cry.

Be as vulnerable as possible. We need to pour our hearts out onto the page, in all our pain and struggle. Process ideas, in real time, over just presenting solutions.

Open your heart and let the reader see how agonizing it was to discover what you are presenting.

Jack Johnson lyrically wrote in the song, Let It Be Sung:

“I’ve read all of the stories, and in them I place my trust. You’ve gotta hit the bottom before you can come back up.”

Many of our insights often come from our bottom-level moments. We should reveal our failures as much as our successes. Someone reading our words may be in the same position at that very moment. Let them learn from what we came through and now write to tell about it.

The greatest lesson

Perhaps the most important thing to discover in all of this is:

Like a baby, who just “is,” WE are the ones, carrying those thoughts and ideas, that can change, or transform the lives of our readers.

We are given the honor to share how what we have discovered, uncovered, or has been revealed in our heads and hearts, has shaped us.

We should be better humans in this world because the words we share with others have been applied in our lives.

This requires raw introspection. Has what we share with others made us better people? Or are we just more educated, more cynical, and more verbose today? If our insights haven’t made us more empathetic, winsome, nuanced, and inclusive, do we want the same for those that read our words?

This is a question for many that write from a place of critique of other people’s ideas or worldviews. What are we offering, after they accept our new view of the world?

In conclusion

Babies, early in life, don’t position, they don’t attempt to convince, they just poop and eat, smile and laugh, and cry… often. As we grow and “mature” in this world, we tend to complicate things with our need to position and convince. Let’s get back to our most basic, raw, and real selves. Let’s get back to what changed everyone that interacted with us at that time, even if we’ll never remember it.

Perhaps by doing so, we can surprise others not just with the power of our words, but the power of our “selves.” Let’s crack open closed hearts and make a lasting impact. Let our greatest aspiration be to shape and transforms someone’s life not with mere words, but by revealing who we’ve transformed into through applying the raw, inspiring, and heart-felt words we share on the page.

I’d love to get your thoughts as well. Share with all of us, you big — and wonderful — baby.

Live inspired.